Clash Of The Titans

OK... So, I'm a bit of a geek, and a wannabe techie, especially when it comes to mobile phones; or should I say Smart Phones. Small pocket sized PC's which, I'm sure most of us couldn't live without. I know I couldn't. 

In this ever changing marketplace (or should I say 'battleground') There are 3 big names to pick from. Apple, Android and Windows. Now I've never really given Window's phones the time of day and don't really have any interest in them. OK, so I've had a quick play with a Nokia Lumia in my local Phones4U, but it's never been a purchase consideration. So for me... that leaves just 2. 

Over the last 9 months or so, I've had 3 phones... An iPhone 4s, a Samsung Galaxy Nexus and now, a HTC One X... all of which I are really amazing phones and although there will be people out there who will agree, disagree with some of the things I will go on to say in this post, I have finally realised which, for me, is the best phone / operating system out there.

When the iPhone 4s was launched and my HTC Desire was on its last legs (literally) I decided that it was time to give in and go with the crowd. Everyone I knew had or wanted an iPhone. Everywhere you went, you saw people using them. Which I think is one of the reasons I didn't want one. I didn't want to follow the crowd. But, peer pressure n'all... I went and got one. 

As soon as you receive the box that the phone comes in, you are immediately aware of the quality, care and attention that goes in to apple products... OK, so there is no care or consideration in to the environment and the amount of tree's that are chopped down to form the neat, hard wearing cardboard box that it comes in, nor the amount of ink used to print the immensely high res logo on the box... but who cares when you're spending £500 on a phone (if you were to buy one outright). You want quality, you want shiny, and you want to feel that it was money worth spent. And that's definitely a feeling you get when you buy any Apple product. 

And, the quality doesn't stop at the box (thankfully)... the phone is extremely pretty, well built, and heavy ("Heavy is good. Heavy is reliable. If it doesn't work, you can always hit him with it." - Name that film??)... Even the key that's used to eject the perfectly formed aluminium tray for the sim card is a well-machined piece of aluminium.

But that's enough about the looks... what is it like to use? Very simple... almost too simple. In fact, I think the biggest let down to the iPhone is its greatest asset. Its too simple, and too 'does what it says on the tin'. As my girlfriend, Sally said to me the other night. The iPhone lacks that 'fun factor'. But I'll come on to that later.

There's no doubt, that in terms of smoothness and responsiveness, you will never beat Apple products. That's what sets them above the rest. Its flawless. The slightest flick of the screen or tap on an icon seamlessly launches apps, without the slightest of delay.

2 important things for me when it comes to a mobile is its music capabilities and its camera quality, both of which the iPhone lives up to the mark. In terms of music, as you would expect, the iPhone works perfectly. I found it really easy to organise my albums, create playlists and play them to a high standard. All through an attractive interface. But a phone which follows in the success of the iPod, you wouldn't expect anything else.

The camera also lives up to the mark, and producing some amazing shots. Although, as with a lot of phones, night time shots weren't up to much.

So why did I want to change? I hear you ask... well, as I mentioned earlier... the iPhones biggest flaw, is its biggest asset. Its too simple and easy to use. Its too... 'does what it says on the tin'... I wanted a phone I could mess about with, access the folder structures, change things, animated wallpapers, fancy widgets, etc.... everything that the iPhone lacks. 

So, around the same time that Android released ICS and the Galaxy Nexus, I decided that it was time for a change. I have always been a fan of Android, and Google. Any one that names their operating systems after deserts gets my vote. Samsung just haven't got it quite right. Not really sure what it was about the Nexus, I could never quite put my finger on it, just didn't make me smile. So, wasn't long after selling my 4s and buying a new Nexus that I realised that as much as I missed Android, (from having my Desire). What I missed the most was HTC's front end to it, Sense. 

Silly little things like the weather animation you get when you unlock the screen. The pretty clock widget on the home screen. All of which, I'm sure you can download an app for the Nexus to do, but it wouldn't be the same. It would be a copy... And copies (just like watches) are never as good as the original.

Yes the Nexus is a nice phone. The screen resolution is amazing... Extremely crisp and clear, more so than the 4s, but every time I looked at it, I knew there was something missing from it. 

I think I had the Nexus for 3 months in total, until HTC released their new flagship phone... The HTC One X... After a couple of visits to Phones4U to play around with one I realised that I needed this in my life... Totally 'shabatronic' (a word my girlfriend and her mate have just randomly given me and said I have to fit into my blog... but actually figure it fits quite well). But anyway... The HTC One X... What a phone.

Top marks to HTC for releasing, what I personally think, has to be one of (if not the) best phone currently on the market....

... Now to wait for the iPhone 5 ;)